Fermented soybean meal improves the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and microbial flora in piglets

In order to increase nutritive values of soybean meal(SBM), 3 species of microbes were used to ferment SBM. Through a 3 x 3 orthogonal design and parameter measurements of soybean peptide and antinutritional factor contents in the fermented soybean meal(FSBM), it was estimated that the best microbial proportion of Bacillus subtilis, Hansenula anomala and Lactobacillus casei was 2:1:2 for SBM fermentation(P < 0.05). The further piglet feeding experiment showed that 10% FSBM substitute for SBM had no significant effect on growth performance of suckling piglets(d 7-28)(P> 0.05). However, newlyweaned piglets(d 28-38) fed 10% FSBM and different levels of plasma protein obtained higher average daily gain(ADG) and feed conversion ratio(FCR), compared with those without FSBM but with 6% plasma protein(P < 0.05). Piglets(d 38-68) fed diets supplemented with FSBM and soybean protein concentrate(SBPC) at 3.75% and 7.5% respectively increased nutrient digestibility,fecal enzyme activity and lactic acid bacteria counts, and decreased fecal Escherichia coli counts(P < 0.05), compared with the control. These data indicated that FSBM had positive effects on nutrient digestibility and fecal microflora for piglets.